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Opportunity for surgical trainees!

Wednesday, 7 November, 2018

CSH is looking for a surgical trainee to become our national Sustainable Operating Theatres Network Manager. Operating theatres are typically the most resource-intensive area of a hospital, generating 21-30% of hospital waste and are 3-6 times more energy intensive than the rest of the hospital. We are trying to work out how best to improve the eco-efficiency of theatres.

The aim of the Sustainable Operating Theatres network is to embed environmental sustainability into surgical and anaesthetic pathways around the UK. The network will act as a platform for sharing case studies of sustainable practice. We would also like to know from members of the surgical team what they think are the barriers and enablers to sustainable practice within operating theatres. The network manager will work alongside our Sustainable Surgery Fellow Chantelle Rizan who is examining the carbon footprint of surgery within her PhD. From February 2019, they will also be joined by the AAGBI Environmental Anaesthesia Fellow, Dr. Cathy Lawson.

This is a one year voluntary post, requiring equivalent of 2 days per month commitment. Responsibilities include:

Reaching out to members of the surgical team across the UK, encouraging them to join and engage in the online community

Facilitating & overseeing the network

Develop and disseminate a campaign of simple changes that can be implemented by operating personnel to improve surgical sustainability

There is also potential to help form a Sustainable Operating Theatres Ambassador programme. The ambassadors will act as local champions, seeking for bottom up cultural change within operating theatres.

At CSH we have a legacy of successful similar work in other healthcare specialties, but this has never been done within surgery before.

This is an exciting opportunity to:

Learn about how surgery can be made more environmentally sustainable

Develop skills in leadership and project management at a national scale

Develop networking skills with members of the surgical community who are also passionate about the environment

Contribute to an impactful movement, leading the edge of sustainability in surgery

Work with experts in the field with >10 years experience in clinical sustainability

To apply for this post please write 350 words outlining your reasons for applying, relevant experience and your vision for the network. Please also submit a two page summary of your CV. Submit applications to chantelle.rizan@sustainablehealthcare.org.uk by midnight on 9th November 2018.